The Triumphant Life of Theodore Roosevelt edited by J. Martin Miller

68
THE HOME OF THE PRESIDENT
get the news that is published each day for the benefit of the
public. The visitor to the White House will find from two to
four newspaper correspondents in the White House press
room at all times during the day. The next door on the right
leads to where the force of clerks and messengers employed
there are at work, or where they make their headquarters.
THE COLORED GUARDIAN
Immediately to the left of this entrance is seated an old
colored man named Simmons, who has been the doorkeeper
at the office of the private secretary to the President ever
since President Grant occupied the White House. Simmons
is one of the few men who do not go out with a change of
administration. He stayed at his post right along during the
two administrations of Grover Cleveland.
OFFICES OF THE SECRETARY
Through the door which Simmons guards is the President's
secretary, IVIr. William Loeb, Jr., and the President's assistant
secretary, Mr. Barnes. There is a telephone on Mr. Barnes'
desk, but Mr. Loeb does not have a telephone at his desk.
When the White House is called up by telephone, the name
of the person calling is always asked for by the clerk who
attends to the telephone at the White House office. The
clerk then tells Mr. Barnes that some one wishes to speak to
Mr. Loeb, or have him take a message to the President.
Cranks and all sorts of people are continually calling up the
White House. If the person calling is favorably known, and
a person of any standing, there is no trouble at all about
delivering a message, the same as to any ordinary business
establishment. Very often the White House is called up on
the long distance telephone, from New York, Philadelphia,